Improvement in sewing-machines



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A. B. HOWE.

Sewing Machine.

No.. 37,913. Patented March 17, 1863. A

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A. B. HOWE. `Sewing Machine.

Patented March 17, 1863.

UNITED STATESl PATENT GFFICE.

AMASA BEMIS Itl()VE,`()F NEV YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEWING-MACHINES.

Specitication forming part of Letters Patent No. 37.9l3, dated March 17,1863.

To all fr0/tom it may concern:

Be' it known that I, AMASA BEMIs Hows, of the city, county, and State of4 New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sewing-Machines; and I do' hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters refer to like parts.

'Ihe improvements which I have invented are applicable to nearly all the different kinds and forms-of sewing-machines now manufac-` tured; and they relate, first, to an adjustable needle or needle-bar box, hy which the needle, whether coarse or tine, can be readily adjusted and made to operate in any required proximity to the shuttle-race, shuttle, hook, or other device used for securing the loop ot' theneedlethread. In order to accomplish this very desirable object, I construct the needle-bar box separate from the stationary arm or post which supports the needle-arm.

In the drawings, Fignrel shows a side view of the machine; Fig. 2, an end view with the cap of needle-bar box removed; Fig. 3, the needle-har box detached. Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 show particular parts ofthe machine, which I `will presently describe.

, a strong volute spring, o, having a resistingpower ot' one or two hundred pounds. I then pass a screw, p, through the arm A and the spring 0 into the bed-piece B. The needlebar and pressure-bars are now to be placed in position, as better shown in Fig. 2. The cap B is firmly screwed to the bed B. Now, by turning the screw p in one direction the needlebar box will be. drawn against the spring o, thereby bringing the needle to any required proximity to the shuttle-race, shuttle, hook,or other device used for securing the loop of the needle-thread. No adjustment ot' the screw q is required when the position of the needle is to be changed.

I do not limit this part ot' my invention to the exact mechanism described, as the spring maybe dispensed with and counter set-screws may he inserted from the opposite side of the needle-har box, which would require the use ot' two or three screws to obtain a proper ad- `justment.

In order that the loop of thread formed by the action ot' an eye-pointed needle be properly presented to the loop-securing device, it is essentially necessary that the needle should play or moveas closely to the loop-securing device as possible, Iand that the needle and loop-securing device do not come in contact with each other. When thesetwo essentially requisite parts of a sewing-machine are thus nicely adjusted the machine will be found to work well, and not liable to miss or drop stitches on thin and plain fabrics; but in crossing seams and in sewing fabrics of firm or uneven texture there will be gi eat liability of the needle being deiiected across the line of action ofthe loopsecuringdevice,whenone orbothwillbebrokpn and the machine materially deranged.

The second part of my invention relates to a device for counteracting the lateral detiention of the needlejustdescribed. This device is shown in Fig.1 ofthe drawings at 0,(1, @,f, anl g, in which c is a vibrating lever, d being its center of motion, and it is operated by the cam g. When the needle has descended and it then slightly recedes in order to form and present its loop to the loop-securing device, which in the drawings is a shuttle. The'ca'm g is so set on its shaft that after the loop-forming motion of the needle has taken place it will cause the upper end of the lever c to move toward the needle, which,if deflected into the clip c before the shuttle advances, and I prefer that the clip c hold the needle in that position until the shuttle has passed entirely through the necdleloop` thus preventing the shuttle from touching the needle while passing through the loop, as practice and experience have shown that where much tension is required on the needle-thread the needle will be drawn against the shuttle, causing both needle and shuttleto become worn and abraded.

The practical results of these two improvements, so far as I have been able to test them, are that not one-tenth part of the number of carried its loop ot' thread through the fabricy shuttle-race, will be pressed back again by the needles are broken, and none are broken' by the needle and shuttle comingin contact, and the liability of missing or dropping stitches is vastly lessened, while much iner needles can be used than without these improvements.

The third part of my invention relates to an adjustable and detachable presser-foot or cloth-holder, which is shown in Figs. 1, 2, G, and 7.

In sewingmachines intended for sewing thick and thin or light and heavy Work, or using tine and coarse needles, an adjustment of the foot or cloth-holder is required, and Ire quently a change in the'form ofthe foot. These objectsare readily'accomplished by the part ot my invention now to be described.

Fig.6 is a section ofthe presser-bar reduced or turned smaller, with a shoulder at r2. This section of presser-bar has the foot detached. The foot or cloth-holder, Fig. 2, r r', is made with a socket and boss, through which two screws are passed, which impinge upon the reduced part ofthe pressenbar at r2. By this arrangement the presser font can be turned land placed to any required proximity to the needle, while at the same time it can readily be detached and another ot' any desired form as readily adjusted in its place.

Fig. 7 is a top or plan view, showing the presser-t`oot and the screws for holding it. with the presser-bar eut oft' at the point where it enters the socket of the )')resser-foot.v

The fourth part of my invention relates to the feeding apparatus, a side view ot' which is shown in Fig. I and a plan view in Fig. 2.

`For moving the fabric I employ the Wellknown serrated feed-wheel. At about onefourth ofan inch inside ofit speriphery, and concentric'with its serrated surface, I forma (lange. 11.2. projecting` about one-i'ourth of an inch.l fi i2 is a vibrating lever, its center of motion being at lt, which is a stationary shat't or stud onv which the feed-wheel and lever are attached and move; Recesses or steps are cut-in the vibrating lever near its cenler ot' motion. Into these recesses or steps small wedge-shaped pieces of metal k are stepped, which I call clutches They have a slot cut in the side next to thefeedwheel,exactly tittingthe flange municated to the clutches k, which take hold of or grip the flange h2 of the feed-Wheel,i-nov ing it the required distance, which distance i-s governed by the setscrew u, against which the upper end of the lever i' is drawn by the spring l. The springs 7a2 have no vibratory motion, their office being only to bring the clutches into position again on the ange after it has been moved the requisite distance. -The action and power ot' the lever t' 'i2 and the clutches k arethat ot' compound levers. The clutches are the only part in the feeding mechanism liable to Wear, their cost is but triding, and as they are not attached to the other parts of the feeding mechanism the most inexperienced operator can remove them and substitutey others in their places.

Having thus fully described the improve. ments which I have invented, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combina-tion with the needle-bar box B B', the screw p and the spring o for adjusting and controlling the proper adjustment of said needle-bar box and the needle-bar and needle therein, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the needle, the clip or arm c of the lever c l cj', and the cam g for bringing the needle into proper position should it be deiiected by any cause, the whole operating in the manner and for the purpose substantially as described.

3. The combination ot' the adjustable needle-bar box with the vclip c and its operative parts, substantially as described.

4. rlhe arrangen'ient'of the compound levers and theiraction upon and with the feed-Wheel, as herein described and shown.

` A. B. HOWE. Witnesses W. B. LAsscUE, L.M. HAMMON. 

